Kenyan secondary schools are inadequately prepared to handle fire outbreaks, putting learners at great risk.
An audit of the learning facilities shows that they don’t have the right equipment and tools to handle fires contrary to the Schools Safety Standard Manual that requires the institutions to have fire extinguishers, fire blankets and fire alarms.
They are also required to have post-evacuation maps at entrances, exits to buildings, classrooms, enclosed hallways, stairways and offices.
A number of schools also have no fire assembly points. Others have inadequate spaces to accommodate the school population. In some cases, they are enclosed with barbed wire, hence not easily accessible. School fires have been rampant lately, running into hundreds.
And in what magnifies the danger, the Performance Audit on School Fire Safety Preparedness revealed that institutions are not constructed according to the required safety standards.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu reported that several schools have their doors opening inwards, hence students are likely to lock themselves from inside as they struggle to get out.
“Physical verification revealed that some schools had windows with metal grills contrary to regulations,” the report said.
Some schools did not have doors at each end of the dormitory or clearly labelled emergency exits at the middle.
Some dormitories have doorways of less than the recommended five feet for ease of escape.
“This is likely to hinder evacuation in the event of fire, leading to injuries and loss of lives,” says the report.
The audit established that schools had not acquired the required firefighting equipment due to lack of committees to inform the school management on such needs.
In January 2019, the Education ministry directed schools not to use any monies from maintenance and improvement in buying firefighting equipment. “Due to the new directions, there will be inadequate funds available for fire safety preparedness.”
The audit report states: “Due to lack of appropriate firefighting equipment, school buildings are extensively damaged in case of a fire incident.”
Schools are equally congested, with the auditors warning that this increases the risk of loss of lives in the event of a fire.
Gathungu’s report shows that schools have exceeded the maximum number of students each should have.
The situation has been exacerbated by the government policy on 100 per cent transition from primary to secondary schools.
The performance audit revealed that 30 out of the 40 schools sampled had exceeded their capacity, with Chianda High in Rarieda having an excess of 519 students.
“In addition, 29 of the sampled schools had classes of more than 45 students contrary to the regulations,” the report reads.
Rang’ala Girls in Siaya had a population of 2,134 students for a capacity of 1,620 and Nyamira Girls 1,657 against a capacity of 1,260.
Olkejuado High has 488 students more, Enoomatasiani 397, Thika High 353, Moi Girls Isinya 260, Usenge High 252, Komothai Boys 251, Maliera Boys 248 and Lema Girls 216 above their registered capacities.
The situation is projected to last long as schools have to rely on the Exchequer releases, having been barred from collecting funds from parents for new infrastructure.
Some schools also have triple-decker beds contrary to the regulations that they be either single or double-decker and 1.2 metres apart, set on a two-metre pathway.
Auditors further revealed that most schools do not coordinate with county fire officers for training on preparedness.
“Consequently, schools were not ready to combat fire incidences as they lacked comprehensive training.”
Ministry of Education incident reports show that school fires largely stemmed from cases of indiscipline, and called for counselling.
However, the ministry’s Department of Guidance and Counselling has only two staff at the headquarters, hence cannot supervise schools.
Equally, the ministry is yet to provide boards of management with policy guidelines on how to implement counselling.
“… departments were therefore not well constituted and capacitated, hence had minimal impact in reducing indiscipline cases in schools.”
Gathungu recommends that the George Magoha-led ministry ensures buildings are renovated and remodelled to meet safety requirements.
“The ministry should rationalise the status of classrooms and dormitories with a view to seeking opportunities for expansion in response to the increased admissions.”
The ministry should also identify and recommend critical basic firefighting equipment for schools.
Auditors indicted quality assurance officers of failing to conduct follow-ups to ensure schools comply with safety requirements.
Schools are expected to adhere to the Safety Standard Manual, 2008 but most of them are unfamiliar with its content.